Dan Campbell Jamel Dean
Getty
NFL insider Greg Auman predicted Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions to sign cornerback Jamel Dean in 2026 NFL free agency.
It’s safe to say the 2025 season for the Detroit Lions did not go according to plan. After a steady progression in the Dan Campbell era, 2025 felt like a year Detroit was bound for greatness.
Instead, they regressed, finishing 9-8, tied for last in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings. They faced the tough combination of losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn following a 15-2 finish in 2024.
So now that a rough season is now in the past, the Lions are focusing on regrouping on the fly. The good news is that much of their roster remains intact heading into next season, and Dan Campbell isn’t one to back down after facing adversity.
NFL Insider Provides Relief for Lions Fans
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler released a piece for ESPN on Feb. 12, tiering off non-playoff teams level of worry heading into next season.
Fear not Lions fans, Fowler put the Lions in the top category, labeled “No need to panic.”
“Detroit still has one of the league’s most talented rosters and should jump right back into contention,” Fowler wrote. “The hiring of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing isn’t splashy but will prove vital.”
The offense showed some inconsistency in the middle of the 2025 season, leading to Campbell taking over play-calling duties.
Now, the Lions have hired Petzing as their new OC heading into next season. Petzing was the OC for the Arizona Cardinals for the last three seasons; not a great offense, but regardless, Campbell has all the confidence in the world in his abilities.
“I think he’s going to fit in really like a glove,” Campbell said of Petzing. “To be a really good coordinator, I think you have to know all of it. You have to know the run game, you have to know protections and certainly the pass game. Drew, he checks every one of those boxes, man. It was about somebody being detailed, have knowledge of it, enthusiastic, good communicator. All of those things.”
Lions Looking to Re-Tool Defense
Lions reporters for “The Athletic” Colton Pouncy and Nick Baumgardner released their mock draft for Detroit, which sees it using three of the first four picks to select defensive players.
The Lions will be looking to gain youth and depth on defense after all of their injuries in 2025.
Pouncy and Baumgardner are predicting the Lions will trade down from the No. 17 pick to get the No. 24 pick. With that selection, they have Detroit selecting Akheem Mesidor, an edge rusher out of Miami.
Mesidor was an absolute beast for the Hurricanes in their 2025 run to the National Championship, registering 12.5 sacks on the season, to go along with 17.5 tackles for a loss. Mesidor would be a huge get for the Lions, especially if they lose Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency.
With their third and fourth round selections, they project Detroit to take two linebackers: Kyle Louis out of Pittsburgh and Harold Perkins out of LSU. These selections would provide great depth behind Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell.